Tomorrow's Lunch – Press Hall, Wellington

Wellington's Rhett Goodley-Hornblow discovers an entirely new level of food court sophistication.

Right in the heart of Wellington's CBD, you'll discover Press Hall, a recently revived, thriving foodie hub of hand-picked Wellington eateries, neatly packed in to a beautifully designed hall and inner city laneway – a $10 million project of the 85-year-old Community House, that has taken little over three years to create.

On arrival, you'll be greeted by the familiar smell of Tommy Millions, fresh out of the oven. The laneway is home to the well-known Nam D, offering hungry punters fresh Vietnamese street food, right next door is the popular Souvlaki at Acropolis Greek Cuisine, all the way from Strathmore, serving authentic and flavoursome Greek fare. The laneway draws you in to the main hall, where you are presented with a great selection of eateries and open-style kitchens, a visual feast of food, drink and enough action to get you excited.

The great thing about a place like this is that there is literally something that'll cater to everyone. For the early bird, I recommend trying The Lab – simplicity at its best. Try the chia bowl, a perfect combination of creamy and crunchy texture that will wake up the tastebuds and kick start your day. If chia isn't your thing, then the smashed avo on toast with roasted tomatoes should do the trick, alongside a strong flat white or one of their cold-pressed juices.

When lunch rolls around, the options are endless. Choose from Bao Boy (created by the owners of Dragonfly) Yoshi Sushi and Bento, Fratelli Pasta Bar, Mad Mex and Aroha Cuisine, serving plant-based treats that are good for your heart and soul. For the sweet tooth, the Cake Society is about to open, not only serving cake for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but also cocktails and tapas for a post-work treat. Hovering above the space will soon be reimagined as Hayashi Teppanyaki. This one is long overdue, with only one other teppanyaki restaurant currently operating in the CBD. Punters can also expect a bar, run by the owners of Hanging Ditch. In total, Press Hall will boast 12 new eateries that'll no doubt make life a little brighter for those working in the city.

Press Hall makes choosing a place to eat during or after a manic day at work, refreshingly easy. Consider it the perfect place to take a client, a group of friends or just grab a bite to eat on your lunch break, plus you can always guarantee that you will find something to meet all dietary requirements. So the next time you simply can't decide, let Press Hall decide for you.

Press Hall
80 Willis Street,
Wellington, 6011.
Opening hours:
Monday – Friday: 7.30am – 7pm.
Saturday: 9am – 3pm.